Variety reports that Pierce Brosnan has signed up to star in St. Vincent.

The former James Bond star will headline the crime thriller alongside Billy Bob Thornton, Maria Bello and Giovanni Ribisi.

To be directed by Walter Hill from a script by Cameron Young, the film is scheduled to begin shooting on 12 July in Detroit.

St. Vincent follows a hitman (Brosnan) who goes undercover as a priest to get close to his target, a gangland traitor (Thornton). However, he soon discovers that playing the good guy is more dangerous than being a mob killer.

The film is being financed by Premier National Studios, Quickfire Films and Stuart Ford’s IM Global, which also is handling international sales and currently shopping the title at Cannes.